Hill Kourkoutis

Hill Kourkoutis (born January 23, 1988) is a Canadian record producer, songwriter, audio engineer, multi-instrumentalist, and director. In 2022, she became the first woman to win the Juno Award for Recording Engineer of the Year, having also been the first woman nominated in the category.

Kourkoutis has produced, engineered, or mixed albums for artists including Aysanabee, Digging Roots, SATE, Leela Gilday, Amanda Rheaume, The Cliks, and Martha and the Muffins. Several of these albums have received Juno Awards or nominations: Leela Gilday's North Star Calling (2021) won the Juno Award for Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year, while Digging Roots' Zhawenim (2022) won the Juno Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year. Aysanabee's Watin (2022), which Kourkoutis produced, reached the Polaris Music Prize shortlist in 2023 and his album Edge Of The Earth (2025), which Kourkoutis contributed a two songs to won the Alternative Album of the Year and Juno Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year.

Earlier in her career, she had a recurring role as drummer Megan on the television series Radio Free Roscoe (2004–2005). As a touring musician, she has performed with Serena Ryder, The Weeknd, and Martha and the Muffins. She also appeared in the house band for the CTV music competition series The Launch (2018–2019).

Early life and education Kourkoutis was born in Toronto and raised in Greenwood, a small hamlet east of the city. She is of Greek descent; her father's family is from Palaiokomi, her maternal grandfather was from the island of Lefkada and her parents grew up in Athens.

Kourkoutis began guitar lessons at age eight at Durham Music, followed by piano lessons a year later. In sixth grade, she enrolled at Trafalgar Castle School, a private girls' school in Whitby, where she deepened her studies in piano, vocal performance, and music theory through The Royal Conservatory of Music syllabus. Watin reached the Polaris Prize shortlist, and its single "Nomads" reached number one on the Canadian alternative rock charts. In 2024, Kourkoutis received a nomination for the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award and in 2025 a nomination for Juno Award for Recording Engineer of the Year.

Kourkoutis produced, co-wrote and mixed several songs on Aysanabee's album Edge of the Earth which won two Junos for Alternative Album of the Year and Juno Award for Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year. She also contributed co-production, mixing and co-writing to the song "Ghost" from Lovechild by Sebastian Gaskin which was nominated for Juno Award for Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year.

She has also written songs for artists including Royal Wood, Meghan Patrick, and Martha and the Muffins.

Performing and touring Before focusing on production, Kourkoutis performed in several bands, including the alternative pop/rock duo Drowning Girl with David Paoli. She later formed Hill & The Sky Heroes, a collaborative solo project whose sound was described as "alien surf rock." The group released an EP on November 11, 2011 (11EP), followed by the full-length album 11:11 in June 2012, which featured contributions from Serena Ryder, Martha and the Muffins, Donna Grantis, and producer Adrian Eccleston.

Film and television At age 16, Kourkoutis was cast in a recurring role on the television series Radio Free Roscoe (2004–2005), which aired on Noggin in the United States and The Family Channel in Canada. She played Megan, the drummer for the show's fictional band.

She has directed music videos for artists including Serena Ryder, Mother Mother, Sass Jordan, and Alex Cuba.

Discography

Selected production credits Year Artist Album Credits Notes 2013 The Cliks Black Tie Elevator Producer, engineer, musician, co-writer 2019 Leela Gilday North Star Calling Producer, mixer, engineer, musician Juno Award winner; nominated for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year 2019 Madison Violet Everything's Shifting Co-producer, mixer, engineer, musician 2021 SATE The Fool Producer, mixer, engineer, musician, co-writer Nominated for Alternative Album of the Year; Polaris Music Prize long list 2021 Martha and the Muffins Marthology: In and Outtakes Co-producer, musician, co-writer "Act Like A Woman" (co-writer), "Big Day" and "Echo Beach (30th Anniversary Version)" 2022 Aysanabee Watin Producer, mixer, engineer, musician Nominated for Juno Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year; Polaris Music Prize shortlist. "Nomads" #1 on Canadian Alternative Rock Charts. 2022 Digging Roots Zhawenim Co-producer, mixer, engineer, musician, co-writer Juno Award winner 2022 Amanda Rheaume The Spaces in Between Producer, mixer, engineer, musician, co-writer 2025 Sebastian Gaskin Lovechild Co-producer, mixer, engineer, musician, co-writer "Ghost". Nominated for Juno Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year 2025 Aysanabee Edge Of The Earth Producer, mixer, engineer, musician, co-writer "Gone Baby Gone" and "Dream Catcher". Album won Alternative Album of the Year and Juno Award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year

Selected remixes Jill Barber – "Girl's Gotta Do (Hill Kourkoutis Remix)" (2018) Good Lovelies – "I See Gold (Radio Remix)" (2018) FIFA Sound x Hill Kourkoutis – "Toronto Theme (FIFA World Cup 26™️)" (2025)

Filmography

Television Year Title Role Notes 2004–2005 Radio Free Roscoe Megan Recurring role, 10 episodes 2018–2019 The Launch Herself (house band guitarist) 14 episodes

Selected music videos (as director) Mother Mother – "Hayloft" (2009) Sass Jordan – "Why Did You?" (2009) Serena Ryder – "All For Love" (2009) Alex Cuba – "If You Give Me Love" (2009) Crystal Shawanda – "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (2009) Serena Ryder & The Beauties – "Ramblin' Man", "No Air", "The Funeral" (2010)

Awards and nominations Award Year Category Nominee/work Result Ref Juno Awards 2022 Recording Engineer of the Year "Howler" (SATE), "The Drought" (Tania Joy) 2024 Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award "Ego Death" (Aysanabee), "Whiskey Bar" (Tafari Anthony) 2025 Recording Engineer of the Year "Ghost" (Sebastian Gaskin), "Should We" (Emi Jeen)